About Cal Skinner

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Here’s the House veto override vote, 71-42, the minimum for a successful override:

Here’s Governor Bruce Rauner’s reaction:

Governor’s Statement on Speaker Madigan’s 32% Income Tax Hike

SPRINGFIELD – Governor Bruce Rauner today issued the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to override the Governor’s veto of Speaker Madigan’s 32 percent permanent income tax hike:

“Today was another step in Illinois’ never-ending tragic trail of tax hikes.

“Speaker Madigan’s 32 percent permanent income tax increase will force another tax hike in the near future.

“His tax-and-spend plan is not balanced, does not cut enough spending or pay down enough debt, and does not help grow jobs or restore confidence in government.

“It proves how desperately we need real property tax relief and term limits.

“Now more than ever, the people of Illinois must fight for change that will help us create a brighter future.”

A State Representative during comments prior to the SB 9 vote did mention that Illinois has racked up $800 million interest on the past due bills.

The State Rep made a big deal out of that.

Not sure of the time frame to rack up the $800 million, but:

$800M / $25M = 32 days.

Surely the time frame was more than 32 days.

Illinois accrues as much interest on underfunded state pensions in 32 days as it accrues on past due bills in x number of days.

Time for politicians to start talking about pension interest.

That is a very unpleasant conversation because to write it off would require an attempt at modifying the state constitution, or Federal passing legislation allowing a state to restructure its debts and obligations, and neither of those is a sure thing.

Taxes would probably have to higher before the state would take those measures.

In other words the state and taxpayers are between a rock and a hard place, and everyone is ignoring the elephant in the room.

The major irony is that Republicans are most likely going to lose seats to “teach them a lesson” and the state will go bluer, perhaps getting supermajorities in both chambers and getting a Democratic governor, which is absolutely counterproductive from a conservative point of view.